LAWYERS TO BE CONSULTED MCC PUTS RS. 80.00 PAGES 64 / SECTIONS 6 VOL. 02 – NO. 40 SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020 YAHAPALANA ON MARBLE ACTIONS UNDER SHORT SPECIAL FATE OF POLLS BEACH CIRCUITED PRICE ALREADY SPOTLIGHT BY ISSUES Rs. 60.00 PROJECTED »SEE PAGES 10 &11 »SEE PAGE 5 »SEE PAGES 6 & 7 »SEE BUSINESS PAGE 1 For verified information on the GENERAL PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES COVID-19 LOCAL CASES COVID-19 CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any of the IN THE WORLD following authorities ACTIVE CASES TOTAL CASES 1999 TOTAL CASES Health Promotion Bureau 2,010 Suwasariya Quarantine Unit 0112 112 705 9,757,432 Ambulance Service Epidemiology Unit 0112 695 112 DEATHS RECOVERED Govt. coronavirus hotline 0113071073 Wash hands with soap Wear a commercially Maintain a minimum Use gloves when shopping, Use traditional Sri Lankan Always wear a mask, avoid DEATHS RECOVERD 1990 for 40-60 seconds, or rub available mask/cloth mask distance of 1 metre using public transport, etc. greeting at all times crowded vehicles, maintain PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES hands with alcohol-based or a surgical mask if showing from others, especially in and discard into a lidded instead of handshaking, distance, and wash hands 11 1619 492,731 5,285,129 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 handrub for 20-30 seconds respiratory symptoms public places bin lined with a bag hugging, and/or kissing before and after travelling 380 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 3.20 P.M. ON 26 JUNE 2020 DCSL’s suspicious ethanol cleared z Customs holds and releases 20 tankers z Suspected to be ordered after ethanol import ban BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA The shipment was ordered by the Harry before or after the government ban was Rajapaksa ordered the ban on the import ban. Commenting further, he said the State- Jayawardena-led Distilleries Company imposed, and were subsequently cleared. of ethanol, the main input of arrack, in owned Sevanagala and Palewatta sugar A shipment of ethanol ordered for the production of alcohol of Sri Lanka PLC (DCSL), the country’s He also noted that Sri Lanka Customs what the Government said was a bid to factories have commenced production of was held by Customs on suspicion that it was ordered after the largest liquor manufacturer, according to officials have been informed of such protect domestic producers. locally manufactured ethanol and the two Government imposed a ban on the import of ethanol in January, the Director General of Customs (Retd.) attempts and necessary action would be The Government last week announced factories are involved in 100% production but was cleared late on Friday evening following inspection. Major General Vijitha Ravipriya. However, taken. When contacted on Friday evening, that the ethanol ban would not be lifted and of locally manufactured ethanol, which he said investigations were conducted by Harry Jayawardena said that he was in a it would confiscate the alleged shipments has proved to be sufficient to cover the Director of Customs Sunil Jayarathna were being held by Sri Lanka Customs Customs to see whether the shipments of meeting and could not speak at that time. of ethanol that have been brought into the requirement of the country. told The Sunday Morning that 20 tankers under this suspicion. ethanol have been imported to the country In January, Finance Minister Mahinda country following the imposition of the Contd. on page 2 INCREASING ESTATE WORKERS’ WAGES 2020 GENERAL ELECTION I didn’t mean it! Cost to be under Rs. 7 b Plantations agree The Elections Secretariat is the cost exactly. But we don’t hoping to limit costs for the think it will go beyond Rs. 7 upcoming general election to billion,” Chief Accountant at the Rs. 7 billion. Elections Secretariat G.R.A.K. if subsidies given “We initially estimated Rs. 5 Gamlath told The Sunday BY SARAH HANNAN These sentiments were shared billion but we don’t know how the Morning. by the plantation company Covid-19 guidelines will affect Contd. on page 2 In a long-awaited breakthrough, owners with Prime Minister plantation company owners have Mahinda Rajapaksa at the last agreed to provide wage increments meeting held on Thursday (25) for estate workers if the Government at Temple Trees, The Sunday FIND YOUR DAILY agrees to provide them subsidies Morning learnt. and concessions in return. Contd. on page 2 ESSENTIALS THROUGH MCC COMPACT Govts in contradiction topads.lk z Agreement harmful: Review committee member BY SKANDHA GUNASEKARA roughly amounting to $ 10 million VISIT while the US categorically denies Controversy surrounding the any such transaction despite an Millennium Challenge Corporation American company looking for www.topads.lk Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias “Karuna Amman” seen leaving the CID last Thursday (25) after (MCC) Compact agreement a procurement agent manager in giving a seven-hour statement over remarks made on 19 June while campaigning for the election to deepened as the review committee 2018 for contracts in support of the effect that he killed 2,000-3,000 Sri Lankan Army soldiers in one night at Elephant Pass says the previous Government the compact. PHOTO PRADEEP DAMBARAGE signed agreements on two occasions Contd. on page 2 WEDITHALATHIVE PRAWN FARM AUTOMATIC WEATHER SYSTEM RUWANPURA EXPRESSWAY PROJECT STEPS De-gazetting Audit Office Awaiting Cabinet approval Search for the product at appeal stage The Ministry of Roads and Project (REP) in order to go Highways is awaiting the ahead with its construction, The uncovers BY AGRA RANASINGHE you need on topads.lk Cabinet’s decision on the long- Sunday Morning learnt. The de-gazetting of the Wedithalathive delayed Ruwanpura Expressway Contd. on page 2 Nature Reserve, to make it available for the irregularities? Contact the mobile establishment of a prawn farm, is currently The National Audit Office (NAO) has at the appeal stage, Department of Wildlife unearthed gross irregularities with regard to number mentioned Conservation (DWC) Director General M.G.C. COVID-19 IMPACT IN SRI LANKA the Rs. 400 million-worth Doppler radar system Sooriyabandara told The Sunday Morning. project which is an automatic weather system below the product Contd. on page 2 launched 13 years ago. 30% of families Contd. on page 2 Get it delivered to your OVERDUE RENT cut down on food MIGRANT WORKER LAY-OFFS home through the seller 30% of families in Sri Lanka carried out in Sri Lanka. Rs. 50 m have already reduced their Already, half a billion people daily food consumption, with in South Asia are categorised Forex loss yet a similar number having lost all as facing food insecurity, and cost to CMC their income. UNICEF, based on its findings, uncalculated The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is This was revealed when the predicts that in a worst-case The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment burdened by overdue rent of over Rs. 52 million effects of Covid-19 and its impacts scenario, the number of South (SLBFE) is yet to estimate the loss in foreign on three properties that were allocated to three on the country’s food security Asian children living in poverty remittances due to the return of expatriate workers former municipal council commissioners, The were highlighted by UNICEF could grow to more than 360 upon termination from their employment, but #stayhome #staysafe #groceryitem #vegetables Sunday Morning learnt. (United Nations Children’s Fund) million within six months. expects there to be a significant decrease. Contd. on page 2 during a recent survey that was Contd. on page 2 Contd. on page 2 #fruit #deliveredtoyourdoorsteps 2 the sunday morning NEWS Sunday, June 28, 2020 WITH OUR READERS’ HEALTH IN MIND A SPECIAL ANTIMICROBIAL INK HAS BEEN USED IN THE PRINTING OF OUR NEWSPAPER Contd. from page 1 The President in early January the compact which says the Attorney recessions while families will suffer, with Distilleries’... instructed that the daily wage of a General (AG) makes a statement to the Awaiting... millions of children bearing the brunt, the Minister Pathirana further said the ban plantation worker was to be increased effect that the Government of Sri Lanka The Ministry, for the past two weeks, report indicated. on ethanol imports will enable the two accordingly with effect from 1 March. has fulfilled the necessary conditions had expected a directive to be given by the UNICEF views that an emergency factories to remain profitable over the However, the plantation owners had said including passing the compact in Cabinet of Ministers to go ahead with the Universal Child Benefit (UCB) would be next few years. they were short of funds in January. Parliament. But if the AG gives such an project, but the Cabinet had not reached a an important component of ensuring that The Minister further refuted reports During the meeting on 18 June, CWC opinion, then his hands are tied when it final decision, it is learnt. the vast majority of households across of ethanol produced at the State-owned General Secretary Jeevan Thondaman comes to defending the Government in Speaking to The Sunday Morning, South Asia can access a minimum level of Sevanagala and Palewatta sugar factories demanded the plantation company heads the future, if the Government wants to Secretary to the Ministry of Roads and income support. being of substandard quality, assuring it increase the daily wage of estate sector bring in legislation that could clash with Highways Ranjith Premasiri said that Analysis across five countries in South meets the necessary standards. workers to Rs. 1,000 by adding a price- the MCC Compact provisions.” everything with regard to the REP could Asia indicates that a UCB costing 2% share supplement, productivity incentive, Following a cabinet decision taken on be done only after the cabinet decision is of GDP over six months would provide and attendance incentive to the day’s 18 December 2019, the four-member given.